As we’ve been reporting all week, Texas shelters and rescuers are struggling to care for livestock abandoned and unwanted by farmers and ranchers who, because of the unprecedented drought and faltering economy, can no longer afford to care for them. In response to what appears to be a worsening and likely long-term crisis, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) announced yesterday they are granting $250,000 to 24 Texas and Oklahoma equine animal welfare groups and shelters through the Texas and Oklahoma Equine ‘Hay Bale-Out’ program.
“The ASPCA is aware that tremendous hardship has been placed on rescue organizations and agencies that help horses and donkeys throughout Texas and Oklahoma, due to the immense shortage of the equine’s most basic need; hay,” said Jacque Schultz, senior director of the ASPCA Equine Fund. “Our program provides assistance to those who are struggling to feed the horses and donkeys in their care, and we encourage them to share their supply of hay with other struggling local equine owners and caretakers as well.”
Sanctuaries and rescue groups that receive funding as part of the ASPCA’s Hay Bale-Out will use the funds to help feed the abandoned, rescued, and surrendered horses and donkeys in their care. Additionally, they are expected to distribute at least 25 percent of the hay they purchase to local horse owners in need.
Texas organizations expected to receive funding include:
Animal Angels
Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society
Brighter Days Horse Refuge
City of Abilene Animal Service
Collin County Animal Services
DFW Canine/Passion Horse
Friends of Gonzales Animal Shelter
Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
Habitat for Horses
Humane Society of North Texas
Osborne Stables Equine Rescue
Prospect Mountain Therapeutic Riding
Ranch Hand Rescue
Reilly’s Ranch-Horse Rescue
SPCA of Texas
Throwaway Ponies
Triple Me Mac E Sanctuary
Wise Equine Sanctuary of Texas
“The Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) is grateful to accept this funding from the ASPCA,” said Sandy Grambort, equine and livestock program coordinator at HSNT, one of the groups receiving a grant through the ASPCA’s Hay Bale-Out program. “These funds will be used to purchase much needed hay, which will help HSNT feed and rehabilitate the increasing numbers of neglected equines we are seeing, and it will help make a difference in the lives of North Texas equines and their owners as the effects of the drought continue to be realized.”
For More information: “Spotted donkey rescued as drought continues to pound North Texas” and “Agencies and people working together to help livestock owners in need”
Subscribe e via email (above right) for more information. Your email will not be shared. You can also get DFW Animal Rescue on Kindle. Or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Copyright Rebecca Poling 2011. All rights reserved. Email DFWAnimalRescue@att.net if you have a story you’d like to share.
![fourpaws_blog ad 1[5]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P_KuXAkZ-18/To0TN6d4FTI/AAAAAAAAA0s/eNCGUZJvFeo/fourpaws_blog%252520ad%2525201%25255B5%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800 "fourpaws_blog ad 1[5]")
While I am glad that the abandonded and rescued animals will be getting hay, it's also very disheartening to those of us trying to find hay to feed our own animals. If we don't get some assistance, the rescues are going to have even a bigger job ahead of them.
I understand and I definitely feel your pain. The ASPCA grant guidelines say that 25% of the money given goes to local farmers and ranchers, but I fear that it just a drop in the bucket considering the huge need. Did you see the list of resources I posted yesterday? http://dfwanimalrescue.blogspot.com/2011/10/agencies-and-people-working-together-to.html
I truly wish I had more and if I hear of anything else, I'll be sure to post it here!
Folks….I am from the Peaster/Weathereford, Texas area. I live now on the Mississippi atate line in Louisiana above New Orleans. I am currently shipping hay all over Texas and Oklahoma from Louisiana and Mississippi. I am the RTCA Chaplain at The Fairgrounds Racetrack and was at Trinity Meadows, west of Ft. Worth. Let me know if I can be of any assistance in your quest for hay.
Chaplain – how can people get in touch with you?
The Chaplain is a member of the page on Facebook: The Texas Drought Hay Connection.
He has helped many folks already